The Gray Area

Sittin Here

2009-02-05T06:35:00.000-08:00

So I'm sitting in journalism class, trying to finish my verse over the "Move On" beat (which by the way, is one of the best songs in recent memory). Anyone else think the death penalty is archaic?

On a Personal Note

2009-02-04T21:06:00.001-08:00

1. I write a lot. Mostly music, but my math notebook also has essays about stuff like welfare reform, affirmative action and stuff like that.

2. I don't do as well in school as I should. I don't think grades are an accurate indicator of intelligence.

3. I know this is wrong, but I resent people who I consider unintelligent but get good grades through superficial means. It's dilligence, but it still bugs me.

4. I think I have excellent social skills, and I can be a very social person. I deal well with different kinds of people.

5. That said, there are lots of times when being alone seems far better than being with anyone, even people I really enjoy.

6. I would describe myself as an idealistic cynic. Around some people I seem somewhat carefree, but if you know me better you know that injustices really bother me, and I think the world can be a better place. But, like I said, I can be very cynical as well.

7. Yes, I enjoy running. That's probably why I see a psychologist.

8. I really, really love hip hop. Most people wouldn't understand it, but it's more than just a music; it's a culture, and above all a state of mind. I think about, listen to, talk about and write music all the time.

9. When I say I love hip hop...if you complain about the rap you hear on the radio now, I'll be the first person to agree with you. I don't say that to be a pretentious elitist, I just think there needs to be more differentiation within the genre.

10. I love New York City. I would very much like to go to college there, but I can almost guarantee that at some point I'm going to live there.

11. It sounds cliche, but although I'm friends with a lot of people there are really only a few who know me well, and they know who they are.

12. I'm one of the most 'liberal' people you'll ever meet. The labels Americans use are sometimes misnomers, but I think that's pretty accurate.

13. I think patriotism is a farce. I'm all for unity with people and groups about which you care, but blind faith in one's government for the simple fact that it's their place of birth is ignorant, and often dangerous.

14. I love The Office. Lots of my favorite movies are comedies. I love really cryptic, complicated, intellectual art, but I think sometimes humor can be the most intelligent form of expression.

15. On that note, I honestly think South Park has been the most honest form of societal commentary in the last decade.

16. The internet is the worst thing to ever happen to the music industry, but the best thing to ever happen to music.

17. I'm better friends now with a few people who graduated than I was with them while they were in high school. That's pretty cool.

18. I'm an atheist. That term has a ridiculously negative connotation in America, and honestly speaking I find that amusing. Most of my friends are theists, so I don't want to get into my reasoning so as not to offend anyone, but I study religion when I can. I find it fascinating.

19. I find it extremely offensive when it's suggested that one can't be moral without being religious. I care deeply about people around the world. I volunteer, I give money to homeless people, and I know I could never kill someone. I find it ironic that the "Christian right" opposes me on so many of those points.

20. I find it ridiculous when people label themselves as "pro-life," because those same people generally support hunting and war, and oppose healthcare and social welfare. You aren't "pro-life," you just don't like abortion.

21. I internalize everything, but I'm getting better at it. Since I was diagnosed with depression, I channel my thoughts better, probably because I'm more conscious of them.

22. Lots of things affect me every day, usually indirectly. For example, the whole situation in eastern Africa will consume me some days. And it's not the same way it consumes armchair activists with blogspot addresses; it's a general feeling of helplessness. Yes, it's fun haha.

23. I don't trust people. I know how cliche that sounds, but it's true. I don't open up to many people, and it doesn't always work when I do.

24. I'm a hopeless perfectionist at times. Tim can tell you that; I'll write stuff that's really good up to a certain point, and if I mess up one line I start over instead of fixing it.

25. The reason I like to talk so much is because internal dialogues make me anxious. I hate the idea of holding thoughts in my head with no notion as to its validity. That's not to say I'm influenced by how other people react to what I think; I just need to say things for myself to hear them.

09 Releases

2008-12-14T14:23:00.000-08:00

As the year draws to a close, it's time to look toward 2009 and what it has to offer in the department of new music. Here's a look at some of the more exciting projects slated to drop next year.

The Clipse: Till the Casket Drops
After their impressive mixtape, the followup to Hell Hath No Fury looks to be another masterpiece of the coke-rap genre they turned on its ear. Malice and Pusha T are two of the more reliable lyricists out at this time, and the album is unlikely to disappoint.

Jay-Z: The Blueprint 3
Rumored to be produced almost exclusively by Kanye West, Jay's third post-retirement album will be a strong one if "History" with Tony Williams is any indication. Should be out in the first part of the year.

Joe Budden: Padded Room
What would a Joe Budden album be without a pushback? Originally slated for an October release, Joey's second proper album (to be released on Amalgam Digital) seems to have the potential to be terrific, judging by Budden's descriptions of and enthusiasm about the tracks, most of which have been done for quite some time now. It drops in February.

Royce da 5'9": Street Hop
Most probably thought Royce's next full length would be out by now. Although Bar Exam 2 was largely disappointing to some, this project could have potential if he raps like he did on his more impressive tracks this year.

Charles Hamilton: TBA
After hearing The Pink Lavalamp, it seems we have every reason to believe Hamilton is capable of dropping an incredible debut. Here's hoping he outsells Soulja Boy.

Kno & Tonedeff: Chico & the Man
The underground's Detox; this seriously has the potential to be one of the greatest rap albums ever created. QN5 is notorious for taking forever to drop material, but this should make it worth the wait.

Mos Def: The Ecstatic
The single ("Life in Marvelous Times") indicates a return to the Mos we all know and love. Should be an impressive album, and a comeback of sorts.

Lupe Fiasco: Everywhere
LupEND is to be released as three discs, subtitled Everywhere, Nowhere, and Down Here. The discs will be released separately. If Lupe's album is anywhere close to the quality of his first two, he'll run away with album of the year honors.

Dr. Dre: Detox
Dr. Dre's third album...nevermind. I cracked up already.

Comment on the Charles Hamilton/Thisis50 situation

2008-12-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Charles needs to take responsibility for what happened. If it was his management's decision to release The Pink Lavalamp exclusively through Thisis50, which I'm inclined to believe it was, then he should still own up to it, as he should be proactive in making sure he knows what's happening with his own music. Were he to come out on his blog and sincerely apologize to the blogs that helped make him and maybe do some exclusives for them or something, everything would be right in the world. Defiance in this situation will get him nowhere.

That said, I see where he's coming from. He's on Interscope and was apparently assured that Thisis50 could do big things for his album. I get that. He's young, and his management seems to have been very competent up until this point. The only real issue here is his now-strained relationship with the blogs.

Charles Hamilton: The Pink Lavalamp

2008-12-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

DOWNLOAD

From Charles Hamilton's blog:

"This is what y'all been waitin on, ain't it?"
-Kanye West, "Barry Bonds"

To all the intergalactic leaders, December 9th is the day. If my time on earth is cut short because of this release, fine. I feel as though I was born to make this album, and I chose to accept the mission of releasing it when I felt the time was right. Whether I would make a profit off it or not. I would love to see some $ from toiling to do this album.

"What is this album about? What's the story behind it?"

Well let me take you track-by-track through...

The Pink Lavalamp.

MUSIC

I have always said that I am music. Granted that's a phrase that everyone uses, and they have a right to. Even Lil Wayne tattooed it above his eyes. But for me, music is more than just a means of making money. It's not even a means of art. It's my way of communicating. My way of thinking. My way of living. I would still be the outcast to ALL OF YOU (execs, fans, friends, family, EVERYONE) if it weren't for the musical ability I've been divinely blessed with by HER (points up to the sky, and glares with red eyes at everyone who's made fun of my theory on God's gender).

The first verse I wrote sober at my ex lover's church. Second verse I wrote at my mother's house, while high on weed. Third verse... hear it for yourself...

LOSER

At the time, no one, not even some of my friends, wanted to give me credit for my lyrical ability. Even in some of the "battles" I was in, I would lose because they didn't get my bars. Beyond that, I was always called a loser growing up. I was the kid who wore Payless Sonic the Hedgehog sneakers, could impersonate anything I saw on TV, played piano and had HORRIBLE luck with women. To me, this song can tell the future. Because, hey... "Now my buzz is off the chain..."

SHE'S SO HIGH

I was talking about the sample ("Breathe", Telepopmusik), a girl I used to make love to while on smack, and God. That's pretty much the concept of the album. Is it love? Is it the love music? Do drugs bring me closer to my love of music? Do I love drugs more than I love God. Do I love myself? Does the music come from me? I guess all the doubt comes from the

VOICES

I hear voices in my head, to this day. I hear clocks ticking. I hear old and new rivals laughing. I see horrible visions of people's faces disfigured. And it all comes from my perception of people on the surface. This song is my way of talking back to the voices in my head. I think I should listen to it now. They are coming back pretty strong... I just wink at them... let them feel comfortable as ambient noises as I go through my day-to-day...

BOY WHO CRIED WOLF

No one ever wants to believe me about anything. No one wanted to believe me when I made Sonic the Hamilton. No one believed I could get a deal. No one believed I'd make it past 18. I myself didn't believe I could make it past 13, as many suicide attempts I got under my belt. And let's not forget about the almost overdose days. Yo HchO. Remember AM Studios?

LET ME LIVE (feat. Bagdad)

It was like a dream come true to work with Bagdad. In high school, he was the coolest n1gga. And since I was using the studio in the high school, I always dreampt of working with him. Sounds cheesy, but whatever... at that point in my life, I just wanted to be happy, and he lives his life very carefree... and I admired that.

BRIGHTER DAYS

Despite my self-constructed hell, I knew brighter days were coming. And by the way, I hate church. Any system of which they tell you what's right and wrong based on loosely-translated text is wrong. Especially when the person giving the teachings is as guilty as the sinners he's preaching to.

Eat a d1ck, Pastor whoever...

THE COOKOUT

I actually shot up in the booth when I recorded it. I can't remember if it was a written or a freestyle. But the bars are probably the hardest I spit in that time. Still can't listen to it without twitching...

SAT(T)ELITE

My love song to... who and whatever I was in love with at the time (yellow?).

LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST (feat. Yung Nate)

Nate and I had a HUGE falling out around this time. We were once in a duo. Honestly, we're the reason why Kids in the Hall and Cool Kids have a floor to stand on. I thank the bum ass A&R who refused to sign us because (we weren't ready) for inspiring other labels to concoct replicas of us. Obviously we're on good terms now, but we weren't then. This is one of the songs that was supposed to be on our album "Welcome to the Jungle".

Will that be the next joint to come out the stash?

COME BACK TO YOU

I put myself in a poisonous relationship in which I vowed I will never leave. I left. And how empty do I feel today? I don't know. You tell me...

LATTE

The night before I wrote this song, I shot the biggest dose of heroin. I was watching this episode of "Behind the Music" with Motley Crue, and I heard Nikki Syxx say that he quit the habit after he did that. So I tried it. And everything I saw in my dream, I woke up and wrote about it.

And it all started with having a latte with HchO.

SHININ'

My suicide letter. 'Nuff said. HchO is the only reason I didn't do it, because as I was leaving the FDA studio to end it all, he walked in. I played him the record, he played it for mad people, and it became the favorite around the school studio.

So much for me killing myself.

I'LL BE AROUND (outro)

I'll let you hear it. "I'll Be Around" is my favorite Spinners song, and it's how I say goodbye to close friends...

WRITING IN THE SKY (bonus)

The day I found out God was a woman. Because I was looking her dead in the eyes as I wrote this. And I was sober.

She loves me. And I love her. And I still got one more wish... I hope it's granted to me (tuck your girl, n1gga...)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So there you have it. The story of The Pink Lavalamp. Come out to the event on December 8th to hear the FULL story, including names of people and vivid situations. I'm thankful for EVERYONE who's played a role in this journey in my life.

-HchO, for being a lifesaver, a father figure, a friend, a brother, and a real n1gga...

-The Moorer/Hamilton family, for giving me the right mix of insantiy and intelligence to formulate who I REALLY am...

-Every ex-girlfriend/female hater of Charles Hamilton, for making me a better, more compatible man. Thought I'm still a "womanizer" in the eyes of some, I'm just a guy who loves the opposite sex so much that it's only trumped by my love for music.

-THE HAMILTON ADMINISTRATION, for being hard-nosed about my success in this industry.

-Kanye West, for listening to my music and being honest. He dug it, by the way...

-Pharrell, for being the first celebrity ass n1gga to big me up...

-Every rapper, producer, radio personality, EVERYONE who's bigged me up.

-EVERYONE THAT HATED ON ME AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME!!!!!!

Thank you all for being cool. And of course...

THE FANS.

I LOVE YOU GUYS MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW!!!!!! My abscence is to come back to you guys a better person. Love you guys more. Make sure that I don't turn into the kind of guy that doesn't blog on the regular. So please please please stay loyal/down/cool wit me. When I come back, there's no taking me from you.

BELIEVE THAT.

I'm very excited by the release of this... and I'm excited to see the response on The Pink Lavalamp.

At the conclusion of The Hamiltonization Process, I'm still gonna be doing music. So I am setting an email list of people who really wanna hear my music. Only those on the mailing list will receive the music... if you want it, hit me up at

charleshamiltoniscool@gmail.com

All those people will be informed of the new music, be it a song or a project... so like, yeah... add that email addy to your contact list...

I love you all... I will see ALL of you when Charles Hamilton becomes Charles Hamilton.

Truly and sincerely yours,

Charles

Happy December 4th!

2008-12-03T20:21:00.000-08:00

You know what it is. Everyone probably knows Jay-Z was born on this day, but so was Masta Ace, also from Brooklyn. Definitely a great day for hip hop.

I figured everyone would be posting "December 4th," so here's a classic track from each.

Sorry, but...

2008-12-01T13:04:00.000-08:00

A lot of you may hate me for this, but I have some things to say.

On Rapbasement, there's a discussion about unpopular opinions in hip hop. Some of the statements resulted in heated arguments where everyone involved seemed to be genuinely offended by the opposing parties. But why would the opinions of strangers on the internet illicit such violent reactions?

My guess is that it has to do with the nature of the subject. More so than any other genre of music, hip hop is a culture and identifies itself as one. When someone criticizes a rapper they do more than just that; they criticize everything they stand for and everyone with whom they're affiliated. Why do you think the East coast-West coast beef reached such a boiling point? Snoop Dogg didn't have to step on New York in that video; he'd already done it.

The bottom line is, certain opinions are considered heresy in hip hop. It's certainly good that there is a consensual respect for certain people: I don't think Run-DMC is the best group ever, but I wouldn't criticize them because if it wasn't for them, I might not be writing this today. However, I think the gag order on some topics should be lifted. Anyway, here are some of my more unpopular opinions on hip hop, take them for what they are. They might be unpopular in mainstream society, on the internet, or with certain groups of people. Of course, I'd love to hear yours as well.

*LL Cool J is terrible. It doesn't matter that he's considered a legend; he isn't and never has been an above-average rapper.

*Hip Hop is Dead... is Nas's second best album; considerably better than Stillmatic, which is not in his top five.

*Timbaland is boring and uninventive.

*Like I've mentioned before, All Eyez on Me and Life After Death were not that good.

*Biggie was a nice emcee, nothing more.

*Tupac ruined his legacy with his post-conviction ignorant gangsta complex.

*Lupe Fiasco is the best rapper to ever live.

*The South is possibly the best region for music over the last several years. It's just grossly misrepresented in the mainstream.

*Speaking of being misrepresented in the mainstream, when people today say they think rap is awful, I can't blame them based on what's popular. It's just a shame they don't dig deeper, and a bigger shame that Plies is rich and Masai works at Staples to put himself through school haha.

*Speaking of Masai, Almost Gone is one of my top five albums of all time. Download it.

*I find very few redeeming qualities in T.I.

*Kanye West is a genius, and an excellent lyricist. People just have a preconceived notion of him as a 'producer-rapper.'

*KRS-One is grossly overrated and needs to decide if he wants to be pretentious or do more interviews with Soulja Boy.

*Snoop Dogg, while being one of my favortie celebrities, makes awful albums.

*Fuck what anyone says, I will buy any Will Smith record hahaha.

*DOC's No One Can Do it Better is brilliant and probably the best West coast mainstream album.

*Jay-Z's second verse on "Blueprint 2" won the beef with Nas.

*Tonedeff is the most vocally-talented rapper ever.

*Bone Thugz N Harmony are ridiculously boring and lazy.

*Sticky Fingaz had the best verse on The Marshall Mathers LP.

*'Swagger' is slang for 'I can't rap.'

*Masta Ace is the best rapper born on December 4th.

*The Black Album is far better than The Blueprint, although the latter had some of the best beats ever made.

*If you think hip hop is dead, you're just looking in the wrong places.

More to come at a later date. Peace

Drake

2008-11-30T20:50:00.000-08:00

In case you didn't know, I'm Canadian. If you've read more than one post on here, you know I love hip hop. Unfortunately, the two haven't intersected that much recently. Classified is somewhat dope, and I can listen to K-OS every now and then. And I'm STILL looking for a link to I Miss 1994 (get at me haha).

That said (and this might be wishful thinking), Canadian hip hop might have a talented young guy who could have some commercial success. His name is Drake, and as far as I can tell he was born and raised in Toronto. I'm not giving him a full co-sign yet, but my man N-EIGHT (akaneight.blogspot.com) put me on to him in the last few days, and I'm impressed so far. He put together a best-of from his mixtape songs and appearances.

Okay, I should be doing my English paper. It's some adopt-a-columnist deal, so somewhat enjoyable. Shout out to Rick Reilly.

Peace

LupE.N.D.: Can he do it?

2008-11-30T14:02:00.000-08:00

In case you missed it, Lupe Fiasco announced that his final album, LupE.N.D. will actually be a triple album, something that is unprecedented in hip hop. In my opinion, Lupe's first two albums are better than those of any other artist, ever. Yes, I think Food & Liquor and The Cool are collectively better than Illmatic and It Was Written.

The problem is, no rapper has ever pulled of a successful two disc set. Of the two most often cited, Life After Death is, like its creator, grossly overrated, and All Eyez on Me is filler-laden, especially on the second disc. So why would Lupe think he can do it with three discs?

First, I don't worry about Mr. Jaco losing focus. The three discs are subtitled Everywhere, Nowhere, and Down Here. If I were guessing, I'd be pretty confident that each will have a slightly different theme and direction. Secondly, even on songs that may not work perfectly as a whole, I can't recall a single verse on one of his solo albums that I found subpar. If he can display that kind of consistency, I don't see how anyone can keep him out of their top 5.

That said, please comment with your opinions, I'm sure mine isn't the only valid argument.

Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak [2008]

2008-11-25T16:07:00.001-08:00

First and foremost, it's important to go into the album understanding where Mr. West is coming from: after enjoying the critical and commercial accolades from Graduation, he endured the death of his mother and the end of his engagement to Alexis Phifer. These two traumatic events proved to be the inspiration for 808s & Heartbreak, which was entirely written and recorded during an intensive three-week studio session in Hawaii.

On the album, Kanye transcends hip hop and essentially creates an entirely new genre of music (which he describes as "Pop Art"). Much has been made about the use of Auto-Tune throughout the album; it doesn't hinder the listening experience at all, and the holistic impression of the album actually benefits. Sounding unlike anything ever released, Heartbreak proves wrong those who were initially skeptical, such as myself.

Say You Will: The album opens with the sparse, brooding heart beeps, piano and choir of "Say You Will." West rarely raps on the album, and this song's structure keeps the listener on edge, especially seeing as it's the first track. Despite the lack of traditional lyrical patterns, West seems to have grown as a songwriter ("When I grab your neck, I touch your soul/Take off your cool, and lose control"). Works brilliantly as an opener, and as the last hook subsides, it flows seamlessly into a three-minute instrumental. Although possibly excessive, this establishes the track as more prequel than introduction.

Welcome to Heartbreak (w/ Kid Cudi): Sorrowful strings give way to piano and stabbing snare drums (NOTE: the widely circulated original version of the song, which replaces the piano with synths, may be superior). The production is rich and intriguing, but West's songwriting once again takes center stage, with laments about the materialistic life he and other entertainers lead, and his lack of personal connections. Sets a morose mood. Interestingly, there is no mention of his ex-fiancee; the song is about himself and personal realizations. An album highlight.

Heartless: The only traditional rap track on Heartbreak, "Heartless" may well be the best cut. This song alone is an example of responsible use of the Auto-Tune: it is used more to subdue his voice and change pitch mainly on the hook, which is brilliant. Contains some of the more biting lyrics on the album: "You run and tell your friends that you're leavin' me/They tell you they don't see what you see in me...You'll never find nobody better than me."

Amazing (w/ Young Jeezy): Sparse production consisting of only drums, piano and occasional appearances from a choir. Yet another example of what is far and away the most well-produced album in the last several years, possibly since his own Late Registration. Kanye has yet to fall flat lyrically, or more surprisingly, vocally. Young Jeezy comes close to pulling off a guest verse without incident, until he declares he is "standing at my podium, trying to watch my sodium." On this song, it's a forgivable offence.

Love Lockdown: The single; this shouldn't be too much of a surprise to anyone. What is surprising is how well it works in context of the album. The piano is terrific, as are the drums on the hook. Also, once the listener has a feel for the song structures on the album, the lyrical impressiveness is allowed to come through.

Paranoid: The first shift in mood on the album, it's a drastic one. Musically, there's nothing wrong with the song, which sounds almost as if it would be at home in an 80's house party. Not bad by any means, but it's somewhat flippant and at times comes across as being inconsequential in light of the heavy first five tracks.

Robocop: The last minute changes to the song (the addition of strings throughout) were a brilliant decision; "Robocop" became an album highlight. The lighter mood established by "Paranoid" is manifested here, where he criticizes his ex with claims of her craziness, paranoia and controlling nature, closing the song by crooning: "You spoiled little LA girl, you're just an LA girl." Excellent.

Streetlights: Another highlight, "Streetlights" is as stripped-down as Kanye has been to date. His vocals were likely touched up in Auto-Tune, but it's not apparent to the listener. Extremely well-written; the only thing holding this back from being one of his all-time greatest songs is the lack of variety in the lyrics. He creates a few different bridges and uses them after each other repeatedly. The best way to describe this track, however, would be to call it beautiful.

Bad News: Obviously crippled by the pain of the breakup, this track is hypnotizing in both its production and vocals. The vocals actually occupy less than half of the song before they give way to instrumental. The vocal distortion makes Kanye seem more real and accessible than ever, but does this through seemingly making him more foreign by modern music standards. Great track.

See You in My Nightmares (w/ Lil' Wayne): I, for one, could do without the Lil' Wayne features on Kanye's albums; "Barry Bonds" and "Nightmares" are both good songs (the latter being better), but After Kanye is finished, you might as well hit fast forward. That said, the synth-heavy production is a stark contrast to "Bad News," while still retaining the general mood. It would have been nice to hear at least sixteen good bars from Kanye here, but the song still works.

Coldest Winter: Unlike the other ten tracks, "Coldest Winter" is not about Phifer; rather, it is about Donda West, Kanye's mother who died last year as a result of complications from cosmetic surgery. Perhaps the most emotional song on an album full of them, you can feel the pain throughout. Excellent way to end the album: "Goodbye my friend, I won't ever love again."

Pinocchio Story (Bonus Track): A live freestyle from Singapore, this would have made an excellent song if in studio quality. Unfortunately, the fact that it is live does little for the effect of the song; the crowd's cheering becoming more of a hindrance than mood enhancer. That said, it is probably the most vulnerable Kanye has been throughout his career.

808s & Heartbreak is a triumph. While not comparable to almost anything, it stands head and shoulders above almost anything else released this year, and shows that, while one of the most famous musicians in the world, West is not afraid to completely change artistic directions.

9.1

The Hiatus is over...

2008-11-25T13:17:00.000-08:00

What's good? I'm back. Just wanted to say what's up, 808's and Heartbreak review coming soon. If you don't have it, go buy it; it's worth it.

And if you haven't heard this, Jay came through on it. If the rest of Blueprint 3 is like this, he could have his first back-to-back great albums in his career. Be back soon

Jay-Z w/ Tony Williams: History

Re: Grip Grand

2008-09-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

You may remember my review of Grip Grand's Brokelore. Well, a few months ago I hit him up on MySpace and just generally told him I really enjoyed the album and mentioned how I incorporated some of the things he did into my writing. Literally the next day, dude hits me back with a detailed essay that is essentially a beginner's guide to rap. Check it out...

From: Grip Grand
Date: May 4, 2008 1:34 PM

Say hey. Just wanted to thank you for supporting the album, i definitely appreciate it. As far as copping a copy of Welcome to Broakland...it is currently "out of print" (although it should still be on iTunes and other digital download sites). However, I am in the process of making it
available (physically and digitally) through my crew's site, routinefly. com...I should have that up in a few weeks. So keep checking that site (in the meantime, you can download some free mixtapes we did, watch a few videos, etc.).

Tips on rapping...obviously the main thing is to keep doing it. I write every day, and throw a lot of it away. Two and a half years of writing is solid, but always push yourself to get better. I wrote raps for 9 years before I ever recorded anything, and I have now been writing for almost 2 decades. And I still could stand to get a lot tighter.

The second thing, for me, is be a ruthless self-editor. Always be asking yourself "Is this the dopest thing I could say here, and did I say it in the dopest way?" Keep reworking it until the answer is yes. Don't settle...have high standards. Hot verses are about saying clever things, phrased in a clever way, and delivered cleverly, and that's whether you're writing about sucker MCs or world hunger.

Maybe the best advice I can give you, as far as being a better lyricist, is to study the best who ever did it. And I don't mean Biggie and Tupac. If you don't already have them, get the following albums and treat them like textbooks on how to rap:

Boogie Down Productions--Criminal Minded
Eric B and Rakim--Paid In Full
Slick Rick--The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
Big Daddy Kane--Long Live The Kane

There's a hundred others I could list (early EPMD, early Kool G Rap, early NWA/Ice Cube, and on and on), but much of the greatest rap music descends from these albums. Countless lines from these albums have been sampled and turned into choruses, crowd chants, etc...the styles crafted on these albums are like the foundation of most of rap's classic flows. Sing along with these records until you can match their words, their flows, the pitch of the voices (your voice is a musical instrument, it doesn't have to stay on one note all the time...you are "soloing" over the beat). Every great lyricist like Biggie, Nas, Jay-Z...these are the albums they (and I) grew up on. So listen to them, study them like a scientist...try to figure out why exactly what those original guys do is so dope--what's hot about their delivery, their cadences, the choices they make as songwriters and musicians?

And make no mistake, this is a craft...you are a songwriter, a musician, a poet. Treat it like that, respect the art...don't just say whatever comes to mind. Even the greatest freestyle doesn't usually make for a great song.
I'm particularly suspect of cats that get too abstract and "artsy" with their crazy flows, but can't kick a hot sixteen. Sixteen-bar, punchline-laced battle raps are the roots of lyrical hip-hop--you have to learn the basics, the rules, before you can break those rules and get abstract. Picasso was an accomplished realist before he became a genius of abstraction. Again, study the foundation, then find your own take on it.

Well, I could blather on forever about this shit, and truthfully, who am I to say what you should do? The above is just my opinion, and it's what worked (if you can call it that) for me. Hope that helps...and I'm always happy to provide more recommendations.

Thanks again for listening, and keep doing your thing,
Grip

"The Room"

2008-09-02T19:25:00.000-07:00

So school started today, and I'm in this pretty cool creative writing class. The first unit is poetry, and the teacher is totally laissez-faire about form and structure. Naturally, I decided to write a verse. It's pretty vague (and surprisingly deep), and reminds me in a way of Lupe Fiasco's "The Instrumental" (at least in topic, I wouldn't claim to be on that level as a lyricist haha). So, take it for what it is and let me know what you think.

It's written from a first-person point of view, but is not necessarially based on personal experience

Not really nervous, just don't know what to expect
Under the surface I can't tell who to respect
Don't know if I want to fit in or be an exception
Will people see reality or just their perception?
Walking inside, everybody's looking straight ahead
Never stopping to question, just content with being led
Don't know where one person ends and the other begins
And I'm hearing everything but taking none of it in
It's been a few hours and now I'm staring at the ceiling
Trying to characterize all the emotions that I'm feeling
Don't meet anyone's gaze, but feel like everybody's eyein' me
'Till I calm down and look around with a sense of irony
People kept talking without saying a word
And went back to their business without a care in the world
I know it wasn't a dream, the evidence is here to feel
Yet I can't help but wonder if any of it was real

Kanye West - Graduation [2007]

2008-09-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

Good Morning: The anthemic vocals and buildup to the hook at the beginning are the perfect epic beginning to a highly anticipated album. Although the verses are rather short, they are to the point and display the social commentary we're used to seeing from Kanye that was sorely missed though most of Graduation. Perfect opener A

Champion: I love how Kanye manipulated this Steely Dan sample. One of the best beats on the album, and possibly one of his best ever. Kanye uses this opportunity to display his growth as a lyricist. The hook comes close to working, but sounds just a tad disjointed; but the singing at the end makes up for it. Continues the strong opening of the album A

Stronger: I have to admit: I LOVED this record when it came out. The drums (both the original and the reworked Timbaland ones found on the album) are much too fast for the song. Overall though, the problem with the song is not in the beat. Though lyrically capable, Kanye goes off on tangents that have nothing to do with the supposed mood of the song found in the hook and come off as just rambling. Kanye may have unwittingly set himself up to fail with his previous two lead singles; it could be argued that Through the Wire and Diamonds were the strongest records on their respective albums. Stronger pales in comparison, but once again Ye flips the sample perfectly, and makes the song work to an extent in spite of the lack of consequential lyrical content. B-

I Wonder: This is probably the most unconventional...nevermind. We'll get to that later. In any case, I Wonder does not follow any pattern traditionally found in rap. Nevertheless, it works wonderfully and becomes a very strong record. Despite not actually rapping until almost halfway through the track, Kanye delivers pointed lyrics in a manner that is closer to spoken word than hip hop. Once again, one of the few flashes of real life issues present in Graduation. Once again Kanye shows that he can push the boundaries of the genre and still shine. A

Good Life (w/ T-Pain): Damn I love the beginning - "Like we always do at this time..." From the moment the snippets leaked we knew this was the now-obligatory party record. When it came out, I think most were pleasantly surprised at the quality. Sure, there's NO depth in terms of lyrics or subject matter ("I've never seen snakes on a plane"), but the beat is something that is sorely missed on Top 40 radio: different. It is also one of the best songs I've ever seen live. For what it is, it works. One puzzling thing: according to the album credits, John Legend and Ne-Yo sang background vocals on this. Then why the FUCK is T-Pain on the hook? B-

Can't Tell Me Nothing: Far and away Kanye's best lyrical performance in recent memory. Wonderfully striking and powerful. Coupled with one of the album's best beats, this stands about above most of his past material. I give Toomp's now-tired drums a pass because this is one of the first of its kind. Were the Jeezy ad-libs really necessary? In any event, the song overcomes and is vintage Kanye West. A+

Barry Bonds (w/ Lil' Wayne): Kanye's unapologetic cockiness actually comes off as endearing. Different sound in the beat, but no real innovation or anything remarkable. The hook is pretty catchy, but Lil' Wayne's verse is one of the most horrendous ever committed to wax. The song is not good enough without it to still be decent, and therefore becomes supremely forgettable. C+

Drunk and Hot Girls (w/ Mos Def): Ok seriously, what the fuck. This record would be sort of funny to listen to once or twice on a mixtape. Sort of. In this context, it's pretty much awful. There is a certain quality to the beat that makes it almost tolerable, and Mos' singing part is actually pretty cool. But come on Ye. D+

Flashing Lights (w/ Dwele): Perfect beat for the song, absolutely wonderful. The synth line is impeccable. Also one of Kanye's most underrated lyrical performances, Dwele shines on the hook. Terrific song, couldn't have asked for a better turnaround from the previous two tracks. A+

Everything I Am: Good beat, and good idea, at least in theory. Kanye comes SO close to pulling off a classic song here, but for some reason it falls just a little bit short of his own library of tremendous songs. It does however provide a welcome down-tempo, mellow moment. A-

The Glory: Leave it to Kanye to take an old folk song, flip it and make it sound like a soul sample. Another album highlight, both verses belong among the best he has ever done. Some find the sample tiresome, but I think it works here. I think Kanye is the most grossly underrated rapper in the mainstream today, but I wasn't expecting him to go off like that. A+

Homecoming (w/ Chris Martin): I know, I know, I'm being irrational. But I can't FULLY embrace this song because I think the original is much better. Judging this song independently however, it stands as yet another album highlight. The piano loop is classic, and Kanye's delivery and lyrics are on point. For such a great singer though, Chris Martin sounds awfully robotic on the hook. A

Big Brother: Toomp DID kill this shit. The beat works very well for the song, and it is interesting personal introspection from Ye. It seems petty, but in all honesty the song loses points for that line in the third verse. You know what it is. B+

Good Night (w/ Mos Def & Al Be): Yes, I consider this an album track (I think it was on all the overseas releases). Mos is simply great on the hook, and it usually drives me crazy when great rappers sing in lieu of rapping. Kanye's verse is undoubtedly one of his best. Al Be (apparently the lovechild of Tony Yayo and Jay-Z) actually holds his own on the song, although I wish Kanye did another verse. The song is a little short, although it's probably my personal favourite.

I guess you never know what you've got till it's gone: I missed the skits. The album didn't feel quite complete without them. The major difference between this album and the previous two classics from Mr. West is that Kanye went from making great records to trying to make great records. Perhaps in attempt to avoid offending anyone, he decided to forego much of the social and political commentary that marked his first two albums. Kanye is so talented that the result is a record that, despite being excellent, is safe in terms of subject matter. Still one of the best releases from 2007, Kanye should remember that the very thing that elevated him to his position in music is his personality and honesty; he should be making the intensely personal and political records of his first two albums if he wants to be remembered as an all-time great, which he clearly does.

8.8

Hurricane Gustav and the RNC

2008-09-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

Just turned on the news and George Stephanopoulos is talking with two Republican strategists from here in St Paul. The conversation turned to today's hurricane (which thankfully appears to have decreased in severity) and the analysts were trying to spin it and talk about how it could become a positive for the party. I kid you not, the woman said "America loves tragedies."

Seriously, some people need a reality check. That would fit right in on this new network, they're pretty good at spinning stuff:

New Lupe Fiasco

2008-09-01T15:47:00.000-07:00

For my fellow fans of the best rapper currently walking the earth, Lupe has been chilling for a minute now. After the recent completion of the Glow in the Dark tour, he has been doing smaller shows such as this one at Indiana University. He debuted the basic structures of two songs possibly intended for LupEND, his final album that is slated for a December 2009 release.

The American Way?

2008-09-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

Without getting too preachy, I just want to make a quick plea to my immense following, in the spirit of election season. (And I'm a little annoyed that you can't go downtown here because of the damn Republican convention.)

Came across this while on Rapbasement in a thread regarding John McCain's vice presidential pick. The topic turned to Obama, and this is what was said by a certain poster:

"I think I'll vote for McCain to spite everyone who won't shut the fuck up about Obama"

Ok, I thought he was simply a dumb person. When asked to elaborate on this however, it got interesting.

"I'm a Dem, by the way. I just want to throw up when I hear everyone spouting this hope and change rhetoric. Obama becoming president is going to have little impact on the life of this 25-year-old white guy."

Well, fair enough. And you know what? He may be right. Im not sure about this guy's financial and geographic situation, but there are many people in developed countries who are literally unaffected by changes in government. But is that really the issue?

Now, I support Obama, but this is bigger than that. The point is that the greatest benefit of organized government is its capacity to act as a safety net for society. There are many people who are homeless, jobless and hungry and trying - often failing - to raise kids. Like Nas said on "Rule," it's a shame that the self-described "most powerful country in the world" has a percentage of its population living in such dismal conditions. (watch this for a brief description)

In short, if you're unsure of who (or what principles) to support in politics, consider this: yes, it's nice to pay minimal taxes. But with a responsible, socially aware leader (like Obama) think of what could be done with those few extra dollars in tax money. Kids could be fed and clothed, and people could be moved off the streets.

It goes beyond politics. Skip one meal at your favorite restaurant this month and volunteer your time or money to a group that really needs it. Go work in a big brother or sister mentoring program. Do something. Because if there's one thing the last eight years have taught us, it's that it won't happen if we sit around and wait for others to do it.

Masta Ace - Disposable Arts [2001]

2008-09-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

Too Long (w/ Apocalypse): Ace is clearly back. Against hard East coast drums, he announces his return in commanding fashion. Apocalypse delivers a capable verse, although for his first album in five years I would prefer more from Ace. Still a great opener, and leaves you fiending for the rest of the album. A-

Block Episode (w/ Punch & Words): Ever since The Message hit pop radio, rap tales of ghetto life have run rampant through the genre, and rightfully so. The difference on this song (and other album cuts like Take a Walk and Unfriendly Game) is that Ace does it in such an original and compelling fashion. The concept is simply a narrative from the perspective of a bystander, a shooter and the (unintended) victim. Pretty much everything goes right. Classic hood track. A+

Don't Understand: The opening bars of this song pretty much sum up Ace's position in rap, while at the same time juxtaposing himself with the recent success of controversial figures such as Eminem and the beefing Jay-Z and Nas. The beat is good and Ace is captivating as ever, but the hook is downright annoying. Greg Nice got too much time on the song for someone who should be emceeing junior high dances. B+

Hold You (w/ Jean Grae): More storytelling. Furthers the image if Ace as just a bit of an outsider to the conditions in his area. Simple beat, nothing spectacular. One of the few hooks actually done by Ace, and it works well. Adds another dynamic to the excellent story of the album. A-

Every Other Day: Jesus this hook is annoying. However, this is some of Ace's best and most socially applicable subject matter. The beat is unspectacular but appropriate for the song. A-

Take A Walk (w/ Apocalypse): Damn this beat goes hard. An obviously bitter testament to the conditions of the ghetto. Apocalypse once again does nothing to detract from the song, but Ace's two verses are among the most captivating on the album. This song is endlessly quotable, and even more haunting due to the fact that it's true to life. A+

Something's Wrong (w/ Strick & Young Zee): "Incredible rhymer, what the hell Ima sell crack for?" In one line, Strick effectively summarizes Ace's character's thesis during the fictional course of events chronicled on [I]Disposable Arts[/I]. Strick and Ace absolutely kill this song. There is a certain indescribable quality to the beat that matches the unabashedly tongue-in-cheek nature of the song. Young Zee is forgettable on the hook but decent when he gets a chance to spit. A

Acknowledge: In my opinion this is better than Takeover or Ether, the two more celebrated diss tracks from 2001. While I'm usually not a huge fan of diss tracks being included on albums, this is one of the highlights. This could honestly be one of the best disses ever committed to wax. Again, Ace is quotable in seemingly every other line. If I were Boogieman, I would have jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge 7 years ago. Terrific beat as well. Ace must have been pretty heavy in the underground: a 50 Cent reference in 2001? A+

Enuff: My favourite record on the album. Great beat; it's impossible to not be in a great mood upon hearing the piano line. Ace does an amazing job describing the state of hip hop at the turn of the century. The concept (repeated use of the word 'enough') is done perfectly: he sticks to it through 90% of the song without it becoming tiresome. Absolutely classic. A+

Unfriendly Game (w/ Strick): Another pure concept song from Ace. Uses football as a metaphor for happenings in Brooklyn. Any rapper can make a song about the ghetto; only Ace can do this. "This aint America is it?!" A+

Alphabet Soup: The concepts just keep on coming. This is Alphabetical Slaughter before anyone heard of Papoose. A little short, but long enough to hit all 26 letters (Y). A-

Dear Yvette (w/ Jane Doe): This is what "Black Girl Lost" could have been. More bitterness on Ace's part toward what millions of people see every day. Good choice doing the point-counterpoint format with a female emcee. A

[B]I Like Dat (w/ Punch & Words)[/B]: Damn, I wish rappers would realize songs about sex suck. This is one of the best ones I can think of, but I don't really want to hear three male emcees (who have already come together to make a classic song on this album) rap about their experiences with females. I will admit though, this song has its moments. B-

PTA (w/ King T & J-Ro): This song is the type that just begs to be forgettable, but is too good despite its lack of consequential subject matter and overabundance of materialism. Nothing really groundbreaking, but this is as probably as good a song as you can make on this topic. B

Type I Hate (w/ Rah Digga): This track displays Ace's bitterness about the paparazzi and gossip-obsessed nature of the industry (and country as a whole). My favourite Rah Digga verse. B+

Dear Diary: The crown jewel of the album. This is the peak of self-consciousness in music. You need to listen to this song to fully comprehend it. The only way it could be improved would be to make it the intro. A+

No Regrets: You can't make a better outro than this. A+

This is how you make an album. The storyline is clever and keeps you engaged despite the lengthiness of the album, which clocks in at 24 tracks and over 72 minutes. (The excellent skits are not profiled here). To be honest, this is in my opinion the best album from 2001, despite being grossly outshined by The Blueprint and Stillmatic. Probably one of the ten greatest albums ever made, it is essential for every hip hop fan. Underground, mainstream, whatever your thing is, there's something here for you.

9.6

Download

An Apology...

2008-09-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

I've been gone all summer, as all of you have probably figured out.

Well, I guess that's a little pretentious considering I probably have a readership of about 0 right now, but the only place I can go is up! I was gone almost all summer, but Im committed this school year to keep bringing you my thoughts and opinions and the finest music I can find. So no more hand wringing, Im back!

Paul Thompson

Grip Grand - Brokelore

2008-05-04T20:05:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Brokeland, Grand is back / 180 degrees from your standard rap

Well 2008 has been relatively quiet so far.

And I told you guys I wouldnt be reviewing mediocre albums. This album is one of the most impressive Ive heard in my memory, and its all the more exciting coming from an artist of whom Id never heard of. With the exception of The Roots' Rising Down and the album I'm about to review, there has been little quality material, at least of the stuff Ive heard. But this is some hardcore quality over quantity.

Hailing from (Br)Oakladnd, California, Grip Grand is an extrememly dope emcee who happens to be, you guessed it, extrememly broke as well. With life in these conditions and his own production (he did many beats on the album) and recording equipment in tow, Grip set out to make Brokelore, the follow-up to his 1999 debut Welcome to Broakland.

I stumbled upon this album on a whim, and with low expectations hit play on the first track, "Showtime (That's Entertainment)." Grip's clever wordplay and slightly unorthodox delivery catch your attention within eight bars. This track also introduces the listener to the basic structure of most of the album: real-life stories mixed with punchlines flying left and right. (With tons of multis on almost every song, it's remarkable that I could not find a single corny one.)

The next track, "Hip Hop Classic," would be a standout track on a lesser album (literally every song on here is beyond hot). The laid back delivery and beat, with a simple but effective piano loop on the hook create a wonderful soundscape over which Grip expresses his longing to be successful, in life and music. Both the two following songs are as good as the first two, "Win the War" and "Tomorrow," altough the latter suffers from the hook being drawn out just a bit too long. The hook is still good, but sounds like a verse. Actually, it's better than most verses your favourite rapper writes. "Tomorrow" is actually the best song to this point in the album, Grip is on fire over the entire course of the album. I really cant express how impressed I am with this.

The next song, "Handle That," appears at first glance to be a glaring weakness on the album. It's reminiscent of the synth/pop rap on the radio, at least as far as the beat and hook go. Upon closer inspection however, the verses are actually the same content as the rest of the music here. (Including one of the sickest punchlines ever written: While you pretend to be sick like Ferris Beuller / Grip Grand drop gems like a careless jeweler.)
Grip Grand talks about Handle That
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=56552847&blogID=370411663

There are simply too many amazing cuts here to name, but the are some that beg mention above the others. "Love / Drama" is Grip rapping about himself in a negative light, and then flipping the criticisms of his music with the last line: Youre so astute brah, every my new flaw, you heard it / Cant wait to hear your album, it must be perfect. "A Penny" and "Out of Service" are both classic cuts with great lyricism, but so are the rest on here. The song with the most potential crossover appeal (which still isnt very much, being that it is acutally a great song) is "Poppin Pockets," featuring AG of D.I.T.C. fame.

Poppin pockets versus poppin collars? Call it a counter culture, call it a parody, but it wouldnt be unreasonable to call Brokelore a classic. Do yourself a favor and get over to youtube, and then your local record shop to pick up a copy.

Classic...

2008-04-25T19:58:00.001-07:00

Well it's been a while. Damn education system.

Anyways now that Im done writing stuff that's not due for weeks but turning in half ass math and science stuff, I have a topic I wanna talk about. My friend and I were debating what makes a song or album (this came up because of the song "Hip Hop Classic," off Grip Grand's Brokelore, which should be a post this weekend).

The way I look at it, there are two ways that one can define the word 'classic' as it relates to songs or albums. The first, which I think is more commonly used, is to take a combination of quality and influence, significance to its time, etc. In this way, Run-DMC's albums would be considered 'classics.' Now as a group they had some pretty good material, but (and forgive me for saying this) the music itself was not the finest hip hop has ever had to offer. However, I would also argue they are probably the single most significant group in history becuase of the boundaries they shattered and the new era of popular music they helped to usher in. If you look at a classic as having a combination of influence and quality, then Rock Box is a classic song because it was the first non-Michael Jackson video by Blacks to be played on MTV. It's a pretty good song, but it probably wouldnt get regular rotation from me if it came out today.

So in short, to have this amount of influence a song (or album) must either define or transced its era. Run-DMC was far ahead of their time, but they helped shape a generation of MCs.

While there is much to be said for recognizing the social, maybe even political (and lets not forget economic) impact of music, I tend to lean to the other side, which is to define songs or albums as 'classic' based on quality, and nothing else. The Cool is a classic. It's been four months and one week since it came out, but I have absolutely no reservations about putting it in the same league as albums that came out 15 years ago. Being 15 years old, I can get away with doing this because while I am well aware of the hype surrounding Ready to Die, I didnt live through it. In some ways, I guess Im ignorant of the full spectrum of the historical context, but Im glad that I am able to judge music objectively (or at least as close as you can come to objectivity regarding art). People laugh when I say I think Lupe Fiasco is one of the two greatest rappers ever, and the ridicule, I would guess, usually because he came out in 2006 and has put out only two albums. The ironic thing is, many people who criticize that opinion of mine have Biggie in their top five. Last time I checked, he released two legitimate albums, and only one was during his lifetime. (Just for reference, the other rapper in my top two along with Lupe is Nas.)

So in short, an album from 2007 need not meet different criteria than an album from 1997 to be considered 'classic,' at least in my opinion.

That's just my opinion, but that's why I have this blog as an outlet. So really there's nothing wrong or right about either of these views or interpretations of the word. In fact, theres never anything "right" or "wrong" with music*. Its art.

*If you listen to Soulja Boy, Plies, etc, there is something very wrong with you.

Peace

Central Digit

2008-04-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

Ahh, the internet.

For someone like me who loves underground hip hop but live in a place without much of a local scene to speak of, coming online and discovering rappers from across the country is really a thrill. Those rappers could be from LA, like Blu (see my Below the Heavens review) or from Albany, like this set of brothers.

J Plus and Masai are 2 out of 4 members of the Central Digit group. I believe the other two are also brothers, but dont quote me on that. To my knowledge, there has not been a group album, but these two solos are something else.

First, J Plus. The younger of the two brothers, Jessie Andrews' debut Wasted Talent has some of the sickest lyricism you will ever hear. While the album falters at points because of several songs that are essentially the same material, it is still hip hop close to its finest. Listen to "Show and Tell" (which features Masai) and let me know what you think. (*note: Do not listen if you are home alone and/or it is dark outside.)

But back to how I first heard of these guys. While Wasted Talent is extremely impressive, Masai's 07 debut Almost Gone literally blew me away. I first heard of Masai from the message board at rapbasement.com (once again, the internet). When he posted his album, I gave it a listen just for kicks. I just couldnt believe what I was hearing. The album went from being "pretty good for a netcee" to "pretty good" to "amazing" and to where it is now, my #2 album of 2007 (#1 you can read about on Friday.) Most of the lyrics Sai has on here just seem to cut through the structure of the song and speak directly to the listener. (Or listeners, in the case of "Let Em Know," where he reveal to two women the details of his promiscuity.) "Role Playing" is probably one of the 25 best songs I have ever heard, and the topic is something that sorely needs attention. On any album not including "Role Playing," "Listen to Me" would be the track everyone talks about.

You take it as a curse cause you confused about the blessing
And its hard to see the answers before you understand the question

Masai has a penchant for lines like that that arent memorable becuase of their crazy multis or anything like that, you just remember them because they transcend the music. As Ive told him, I quote him in essay for history and english. I would name all the standout tracks, but then Id feel bad for the one or two that are left out. The one that begs mention, however, is the brilliant "I Don't Mind," which is featured on both albums.

So in short, J Plus has crafted an excellent album in Wasted Talent which every hip hop fan should have. Masai dropped a (classic?) album that should be owned by any fan of music, writing, or life in general haha.

To get these, go to http://www.goodrappers.com/ and click on the album cover to download.

PS: Look out for J Plus's Force of Habit, coming soon.

Blu & Exile - Below the Heavens

2008-04-14T20:27:00.001-07:00

So here's the first album link for you guys. This is Blu & Exile's Below the Heavens (2007). Blu (the MC) is one of the nicest guys Ive heard from the West Coast in a long while. Coupled with Exile's mellow production and mastery of vocal samples, this came out as one of my top five albums of last year.

The LP is captivating from the jumpoff, with the first two cuts ("My World Is" and "Narrow Path") being the most aggressive on the album. One of the most refreshing things is the honesty he brings to the table on this album. The 'girl' songs on here ("First Things First" and "Blu Colla Worker") are actually used by Blu as vehicles to talk about his struggles as an underground emcee. Blu's mic skills stand out immediately despite his decision to shun strings of multis and complicated rhyme schemes for intricate storytelling.

Make no mistake though, Blu can spit. Check out these lines from the outstanding "Show Me the Good Life"

Fuck jewels I think my soul glows bright enough
And fuck whips I learn more when I ride the bus
And fuck gold its bad enough that we fight for bucks
And fuck hoes cause in the end, I need a wife to love.

For all Blu's exploits on here, Exile isn't forced into the backseat. His beats set the mood perfectly (in most cases) for Blu's dense tales. As mentioned, his use of vocal samples makes you forget what you heard on the radio driving home today and makes you appreciate quality production in a way that is deeply missed today.

In the end, the beauty of this album is in its accessibility. For an underground release by two relative unknowns in an era of ringtones and iTunes, Blu (with help from the underrated Exile) pulls you deep into his "World" and makes you feel right at home. This album is recommended for fans of any type of rap, because influences are clearly apparent and come from all corners of the genre. I went crazy at the beginning of the closing track "The World Is...(Below the Heavens) when Blu comes in with "Whooose world is this?" It feels like 1994 all over again.

01. My World Is...
02. The Narrow Path
03. So(ul) Amazin' (Steel Blazin')
04. Juicen' Dranks - ft. Taraach
05. In Remeberance of Me
06. Blu Colla Workers
07. Dancing in the Rain
08. First Things First
09. No Greater Love
10. Show Me the Good Life - ft. Aloe Blacc & Jospeh
11. Simply Amazin'
12. Cold Hearted
13. The World Is...(Below the Heavens)
14. You Are Now in the Clouds With...
15. Unlisted Bonus Track

Blu & Exile - Below the Heavens
http://rapidshare.com/files/107587364/Blu_and_Exile-Below_The_Heavens-Proper_Retail-2007.rar.html

Blu & Exile - Show Me the Good Life

What's Good

2008-04-13T19:38:00.001-07:00

It's been a long time coming.

In my mind that is. Ive been listening to (actually, immersing myself in) hip hop for a long while now, and just like anyone else I have strong opinions about it. This blog is basically the personification of my daily rants about the music industry, certain artists/albums/songs, or other non-music stuff. This blog is gonna include music reviews, general discussions about it, and other random stuff from my mind's dark recesses. (It's where I keep the bars like bathtub edges).

Ill have links for almost all the music here, but remember, its for previewing only. If you like the stuff, go buy it, or download it legally from the artists website, myspace or iTunes. Because with a few exceptions, most of these artists are pretty much broke.

Well thats all tonight, I guess I have to go watch the Flames get raped by the Sharks (dammit). Heres a little taste of some good Canadian hip hop, and one of the most underrated rappers ever.

Peace. And shoutout to Travis Burkstrand haha.

Marco Polo ft. Masta Ace - Nostalgia